Ms. Jessica Hall, Co-Owner/Instructor

Twenty-Two years of studio dance and performance training.
Specializes in teaching Hip Hop and Jazz. With an extensive background in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary and Tap Dance.
Five years of teaching and assistant teaching for Julie Andrews-Jones, former owner of Julie Andrews School of Dance.
Office Manager at Julie Andrews School of Dance 2001-2006.
Original Member of Julie Andrews School of Dance Competition Team, winner of many regional and national dance competitions.
Original member and principal dancer of the Julie Andrews School of Dance Company. Principal dancer in "Cinderella" Pas de Deux and many other company lead roles. 2002-2004.
Trained in New York in the summer of 2004.
Took intense classes from Frank Hatchett, Janice Barringer, Tommy Alexander, Darryl Retter, Rhonda Miller, Lilian Manansala, the late Steven Boyd, Brad Taylor, Dena Rizzo, and many more!
Graduated from Baker College in June, 2006 with a business degree in Marketing/Advertising.

Ms. Sarah Thaut, Co-Owner/Instructor

Studio dance and performance training since the age of 3.
Specializes in teaching Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz & Tap. With an extensive background in Modern Dance.
Eight years of teaching and assistant teaching for Julie Andrews School of Dance. (1998-2005)
Four Years of college dance training At Wayne State University. (1999-2003)
Original Member of Julie Andrews School of Dance Competitive Dance Team; winner of many regional and national dance competitions. (1999-2001)
Performed in Swan Lake with Ballet Renaissance of Detroit, MI. (2001)
Original member and principal dancer of the Julie Andrews School of Dance Ballet Company. (2002-2004)
Member of the award winning Wayne State University Dance Company. (2002-2003)
Performed in Wayne State Universtity Children's Dance Concerts. (2002-2003)
Attended the American College Dance Festival in Madison, WI. (2003)
Trained in New York at Broadway Dance Center. (2004 & 2006)
Artistic Director and choreographer for Dance Avenue's annual Dance Recital. (2006-2008)
Senior level status at Wayne State University and working towards a Bachelors Degree in Communications with a minor in Dance.

Ms. Angela Henderson, Instructor

Ms. Sophia Martinez, Instructor

Ms. Cindy Rogers, Instructor

A lifetime of dance performance and training.
Over 35 years of dance instructor experience.
Specializes in teaching Kindergarten Level (ages 5 & 6) Ballet, Jazz and Tap.
Kent State graduate and certified by the university's Teacher Training School.
Holds a Ballet Teaching Certificate from the Cecchetti Council of America.
Performed in the Citrus Bowl half-time show. (1995)
Former dancer and choreographer for the Dearborn Civic Theatre.
Former member of the Fairlane Ballet Company.
Cruise line dancer, where she enjoyed performing in Spain and the Carribean.
Previously taught for Marsha Allor's School of Dance in Wyandotte, MI.
Has been teaching at Dance Avenue since 2006.
Choreographer for the Annual Dance Avenue Recital. (2007-2009)
Ms. Cindy's teaching style is full of exuberance and love for the art of dance. Her nurturung spirit and dedication to our students is an inspiration to everyone around her. Her Kindergarten classes point our young dancers in the direction of success!

Began her dance education with the City of Lincoln Park's Recreation Program at age four.
Serious ballet training began with teacher Julie Andrews in 1993, and she soon added other dance styles to her repertoire. Ms. Angela followed Andrew's when she opened her studio, Julie Andrews School of Dance, in 1997.
Simultaneously acted as student, teacher and assistant at Julie Andrews School of Dance for nine years.
Original member of the studio's competition team (1999-2003,2005), winning numerous regional and national awards.
Original member and principal dancer in the Julie Andews School of Dance Ballet Company, playing the roles of the Lilac Fairy (Sleeping Beauty), the Fairy Godmother (Cinderella) and others.
Earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a minor in Dance from Wayne State University in 2005.
Performed in the WSU's 2005 Winter Dance Review.
Worked as associate editor for WDET Detroit Public Radio's Arts and Culture desk from 2005 to 2006, covering many dance and arts-related topics.
Former Hip Hop instructor for the City of Wyandotte's YMCA latchkey program in 2004.
Served as Dance Avenue's substitute teacher in 2006, rejoining the full-time staff the following year.
Specializes in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop, with an extensive background in Lyrical, Modern and Pilates.
Choreographer for the Annual Dance Avenue Recital in 2008 & 2009.
Artistic Director and choreographer for the Dance Avenue Competitive Dance Team in 2008.
Her classical style emphasizes the fundamentals of dance, preparing our intermediate students for the next level.

Began her dance career at the age of four at Cathy Carevic's School of Dance.
Specializes in teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Modern with a certification in Pilates.
Ten years teaching experience.
Has called Dance Avenue home since the studio opened in 2006.
Member of the Cathy Carevic Junior Line Dance Company
Received a scholarship to the Center for Creative Studies.
Member of the Brown Shoe Tap Company. (1998-1999)
Took intensive dance classes with Al Gilbert, Savion Glover, Robert Reed, Jimmy Slyde and Henry Letang.
Received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Dance from Wayne State University. (2004)
Member of the award winning Wayne Stae University Dance Company. (2000-2004)
Received the Copperfoot Award for choreography for work performed in the WSU Children's Dance Concert. (2002)
Member of the Cuban Festival Dance Company. (2001-2006)
Performed at Michigan's Dance Day in Lansing, MI. (2000-2003)
Performed numerous times at the American College Dance Festival in Ann Arbor, MI, Madison, WI, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Took part in the Grand Prix Italia International Dance Competition in Cesena, Italy.
Studied and performed choreography with artists Doug Elkins of Doug Elkins Dance Company, Jan Eckert of Eckert and Dancers and the Urban Bush Women.

Ms. Jessica Renshaw (Ms. Jay), Instructor

Seventeen years of Studio Dance and performance training.
Specializes in teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Lyrical. With an extensive background in Modern dance.
Began her dance training at Wendy's School of Dance in Detroit. (1992)
Over 10 years of dance performing and competing in the Detroit Metropolitan Area and around the country. (2002-2009)
Studied and performed choreography from world renowned choreographers, including Darrin Darwitt Henson, Savion Glover and the late Gregory Hines.
Former assistant director of the Southfield Civic Center Sport Arena Basic Skills Program and Figure Skating Coach.
This is Jessica's second year with the Dance Avenue faculty. Ms. Jay continues to excel our 7-8yr old, Kinder. Level and the Level 2 Lyrical and Hip Hop students. Her passion for dance can be seen in our student's desire to achieve greater dance skills.